Recriminations between 'Agudah' and 'Degel': why did activists not receive their salaries?

Scandal in United Torah Judaism: Six months after the Knesset elections, 20 party activists still have not received their salaries in respect of their work in the elections.

Activists across the country are enraged with the withholding wages due and point an accusing finger towards the movement of Degel HaTorah and its treasurer Moshe Schiffman, who they claim is delaying their salaries.

Six weeks ago it was exposed in Behadrey Haredim for the first time that United Torah Judaism headquarters in Jerusalem were not paid salaries and the payment was late in reaching. Since then dozens of complaints for failing to pay tens of activists arrived at Behadrey Haredim, and it turns out that in other cities too salaries for activists were not paid, including Betar Illit and Modi'in Illit.

Co-director of the headquarters in the city of Bnei Brak talking with Behadrey Haredim says: "At the moment the debt in Bnei Brak, for hundreds of activists, are standing on the amount of over 300 thousand shekels, and debts are also for activists of 'Degel HaTorah'. Schiffman released only to where he was personally signed on contracts, as well as activists with small amounts and activists who worked only on Election Day. There are activists who had rented cars and paid from their own pockets, but the situation is that there is no one to talk to, even though they already submitted their forms on Erev Pesach."

An activist in Ashdod talking with Behadrey Haredim argues that there is an apparent discrimination between members of 'Degel HaTorah' who received their wages, while the activists of Agudath Israel did not receive. "It is unacceptable", he said, "that Gafni takes care of the Torah world's money and does not take care of his own flesh and blood, avreichim who gave their strength for the party."

According to one activist: "We called Moshe Schiffman and were answered with a series of evasions that we did not fill out the forms, even though they have been filed long ago."

"Every day," said a head of headquarters, "dozens of activists are calling me and asking, 'What about the money?' How can I come to them - and show my face, I have nothing to say to them."

"We also addressed Chanoch Zeibert, Secretary General of Agudath Israel who signed the checks with Shiffman," he said, "Now the money is still stuck and he says" I have nothing to do", only if Gafni meets with Zeibert it seems that things would work out, but with the storm of allocations in the city, it does not seem that this is what's going to happen."

Behadrey Haredim turned to Schiffman to request his response, but he declined to comment. However officials in Degel HaTorah, respond to Behadrey Haredim: "The one who is holding this payment is the Secretary General of Agudath Israel, Chanoch Zeibert, who gave instructions not to pay any fee - for no reason, it's not us. In addition Agudath Israel owes the joint account one and a half million shekels that it is not giving. Zeibert's response has not been received, it will be published once it arrives.

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!